Meter having post-meal test-time alarm

ABSTRACT

A method for using a meter and a meter ( 10 ) adapted to determine an analyte concentration reading, the meter comprising a display ( 12 ) adapted to display information to a user of the meter, the display including information directed to a post-meal test-time alarm ( 22″ ) that is adapted to remind the user to obtain a post-meal analyte concentration reading, and at least one user input mechanism ( 15 ) adapted to allow the user to activate the post-meal test-time alarm.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.11/989,815 filed Jan. 30, 2008, which is a 371 of PCT/US06/30594 filedAug. 4, 2006, and which claims priority to U.S. Provisional ApplicationNo. 60/705,957, filed on Aug. 5, 2005.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to meters and methods of usingthe same, and more particularly, to a meter having a post-meal test-timealarm for notifying a user when it is time to measure an analyteconcentration following a meal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The quantitative determination of analytes in body fluids is of greatimportance in the diagnoses and maintenance of certain physiologicalabnormalities. For example, lactate, cholesterol, bilirubin and glucoseshould be monitored in certain individuals. In particular, determiningglucose in body fluids is important to diabetic individuals who mustfrequently check the glucose concentration in their body fluids toregulate the glucose intake in their diets.

Diabetic individuals often test their blood glucose levels via a bloodglucose meter. Health care professionals recognize that it isparticularly important for a person with diabetes to test his or herblood glucose level about two hours after a meal. This length of timeafter a meal represents the time frame when blood glucose levelstypically spike and can cause the most harm. Thus, it would be desirableto have a meter that provides a reminder or stimulus to the user tocheck his or her blood glucose level about two hours after a meal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A meter is disclosed according to one embodiment of the presentinvention. The meter is adapted to determine an analyte concentrationreading. The meter includes a display adapted to display information toa user of the meter. The display includes information directed to apost-meal test-time alarm that is adapted to remind the user to obtain apost-meal analyte concentration reading. The meter includes at least oneuser input mechanism adapted to allow the user to activate the post-mealtest-time alarm.

A method for using a meter adapted to determine an analyte concentrationreading is disclosed according to one embodiment of the presentinvention. The meter has a display adapted to display information to auser. The method includes the acts of displaying information relating toa post-meal test-time alarm, activating the post-meal test-time alarmvia an input mechanism, and sounding the post-meal test-time alarm aftera predetermined amount of time to remind the user to obtain a post-mealanalyte concentration reading.

The above summary of the present invention is not intended to representeach embodiment, or every aspect, of the present invention. Additionalfeatures and benefits of the present invention are apparent from thedetailed description, and figures set forth below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a front side view of a meter having a post-meal test-timealarm feature according to one embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is directed to a meter that is adapted todetermine an analyte concentration in a body fluid sample which iscollected with a lancing device. Examples of the types of analytes whichmay be collected include glucose, lipid profiles (e.g., cholesterol,triglycerides, LDL and HDL), microalbumin, hemoglobin A1C, fructose,lactate, or bilirubin. It is contemplated that other analyteconcentrations may also be determined. The analytes may be in, forexample, a whole blood sample, a blood serum sample, a blood plasmasample, other body fluids like ISF (interstitial fluid) and urine, andnon-body fluids. As used within this application, the term“concentration” refers to an analyte concentration, activity (e.g.,enzymes and electrolytes), titers (e.g., antibodies), or any othermeasure concentration used to measure the desired analyte.

One embodiment of the present invention is a meter 10 as shown inFIG. 1. The meter 10 has a display 12 that is adapted to displayinformation to a user of the meter 10. Some of the information that maybe displayed to a user includes concentration readings, time and dateindicators, markers and alarms. The meter 10 also has at least one userinput mechanism 15 that is adapted to allow the user to make selectionsrelating to one or more user features. The user input mechanism 15 mayinclude, for example, buttons, scroll bars, touch screens, or anycombination of such items. The meter 10 may also have a memory device 17that is adapted to store concentration readings, etc.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the meter 10includes a post-meal test-time alarm 18. This alarm 18 is adapted toremind a user to test his or her blood glucose concentration after ameal. Preferably, the alarm 18 reminds a user to test his or her bloodglucose concentration about 1½ to about 2½ hours, and most desirablyabout 2 hours, after a meal. This length of time after a meal has beendetermined to be the most critical glucose monitoring time since itrepresents the time frame when blood glucose levels typically spike andcan cause the most harm. While some meters provide the capability toprogram test-time alarms, the present invention automatically ties thealarm to a meal marker and provides for the alarm to go off after apredetermined amount of time. While the remainder of the disclosureherein will be directed towards post-meal test-time alarms associatedwith glucose meters, it is to be understood that the post-meal test-timealarm may be implemented in meters used for determining other analytes.

Turning in more detail to FIG. 1, the display 12 shows an analyteconcentration reading 16. The reading 16 includes the numerical valueand the appropriate units, i.e., 180 mg/dL. The display 12 also shows anicon representing a pre-meal marker 20 and an icon representing apost-meal test-time alarm 22. Also included on the display 12 is a timeand date indicator 25. Other markers and/or features may be displayed onthe display 12 in addition to the items described above.

To illustrate the use of the meter 10 and the post-meal test-time alarm18 according to one embodiment, once a blood glucose concentrationreading 16 is obtained, the meter 10 displays certain markers and/oruser features. These features may be pre-programmed into the meter 10before it is used by a user or the meter 10 may be customized for aparticular user's needs after use begins. One of the items displayed isthe pre-meal marker icon 20. In the example in FIG. 1, the pre-mealmarker icon 20 is represented by the shape of an apple. Upon selectionof this icon 20 by a user, the meter 10 automatically responds byflashing the post-meal test-time alarm icon 22. In the example in FIG.1, the post-meal test-time alarm icon 22 is represented by the face of aclock. The user selects the post-meal test-time alarm icon 22 using theuser input mechanism 15 to activate the post-meal test-time alarm 18. Inaddition to the icons described above, i.e., the apple and the clock, itis contemplated that other icons may be used as indicators of thepre-meal marker and the post-meal test-time alarm.

In some embodiments, the alarm 18 may produce a long beeping sound orshorter successive beeping sounds that occur about 2 to about 3 hoursafter the pre-meal marker is selected. Ideally, the alarm 18 is soundedabout 2½ hours after the pre-meal marker is selected based on theassumption that the pre-meal reading is actually taken ½ hour before themeal so that the insulin has time to start working. Thus, a 2½ hourdelay from the selection of the pre-meal marker activates the post-mealtest-time alarm 18 which sounds about 2 hours after the user consumes ameal. If the user does not want to activate the post-meal test-timealarm 18, the user may make other selections via the input mechanism 15and the post-meal test-time alarm icon 22 disappears from the display12.

In addition to the pre-meal marker described above, others markers maybe used to activate an alarm that is associated with certain events.Some examples of other markers (not shown) that may be used with thepresent invention are exercise markers, medication markers, fasting-timemarkers, log-book markers, and illness markers. The alarm can also betriggered after specific events such as a low or high concentrationreading. For example, in one embodiment, an alarm can be triggered onehour after a low concentration reading. In another embodiment, the alarmcan be triggered two hours after a high concentration reading.Additionally, the user can set an alarm to be triggered at a specifictime each day, such as a noon-time alarm. While the use of the alarm isnot tied to a specific event in that case, it reminds the user to take aconcentration reading at a particular time each day.

Some commercially available meters, such as those that are manufacturedand/or sold by Bayer Healthcare LLC of Tarrytown, N.Y., may beredesigned to incorporate the present invention, such as the Ascensia®CONTOUR® Blood Glucose Monitoring System and the Ascensia® BREEZE® BloodGlucose Monitoring System. It is contemplated that other meters, inaddition to the ones listed above, may incorporate the present inventionas described herein.

Alternative Embodiment A

A meter adapted to determine an analyte concentration reading, the metercomprising a display adapted to display information to a user of themeter, the display including information directed to a post-mealtest-time alarm that is adapted to remind the user to obtain a post-mealanalyte concentration reading, and at least one user input mechanismadapted to allow the user to activate the post-meal test-time alarm.

Alternative Embodiment B

The meter according to Alternative Embodiment A, further comprising amemory device adapted to store the analyte concentration reading.

Alternative Embodiment C

The meter according to Alternative Embodiment A, wherein the analyte isglucose.

Alternative Embodiment D

The meter according to Alternative Embodiment A, wherein the post-mealtest-time alarm is adapted to remind the user to obtain the post-mealanalyte concentration reading after a predetermined amount of time.

Alternative Embodiment E

The meter according to Alternative Embodiment D, wherein the post-mealtest-time alarm is adapted to remind the user to obtain the post-mealanalyte concentration reading about 1 ½ to about 2½ hours after a meal.

Alternative Embodiment F

The meter according to Alternative Embodiment E, wherein the post-mealtest-time alarm is adapted to remind the user to obtain the post-mealanalyte concentration reading about 2 hours after a meal.

Alternative Embodiment G

A method for using a meter adapted to determine an analyte concentrationreading, the meter having a display adapted to display information to auser, the method comprising the acts of displaying information relatingto a post-meal test-time alarm, activating the post-meal test-time alarmvia an input mechanism, and sounding the post-meal test-time alarm aftera predetermined amount of time to remind the user to obtain a post-mealanalyte concentration reading.

Alternative Process H

The method according to Alternative Process G, further comprisingstoring the post-meal analyte concentration reading.

Alternative Process I

The method according to Alternative Process G, wherein the analyte isglucose.

Alternative Process J

The method according to Alternative Process G, wherein the sounding ofthe post-meal test-time alarm occurs about 1½ to about 2½ hours after ameal.

Alternative Process K

The method according to Alternative Process J, wherein the sounding ofthe post-meal test-time alarm occurs about two hours after a meal.

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications andalternative forms, specific embodiments and methods thereof have beenshown by way of example in the drawing and are described in detailherein. Specifically, it is contemplated that many other markers may beused with the present invention to activate alarms in the same manner asdescribed herein. It should be understood, however, that the descriptionherein is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms ormethods disclosed, but, to the contrary, the intention is to cover allmodifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spiritand scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method for using a meter adapted todetermine an analyte concentration reading, the meter having a displayadapted to display information to a user, the method comprising:displaying the analyte concentration reading on the display; displayingan icon representing a pre-meal marker on the display; in response to aselection of the icon representing a pre-meal marker being received bythe meter to mark that the analyte concentration displayed on thedisplay is a pre-meal analyte concentration, displaying an iconrepresenting a post-meal test-time alarm on the display; in response toa selection of the icon representing a post-meal test-time alarm,automatically activating the post-meal test-time alarm after apredetermined amount of time to remind the user to obtain a post-mealanalyte concentration reading, the predetermined amount of time beingpredetermined by the meter.
 2. The method according to claim 1, furthercomprising storing the post-meal analyte concentration reading.
 3. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein the analyte is glucose.
 4. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined amount of time isabout 1 ½ to about 2 ½ hours from the selection of the icon representinga pre-meal marker.
 5. The method according to claim 4, wherein theactivating of the post-meal test-time alarm occurs about two hours aftera meal.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the icon representing apre-meal marker is a food icon.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein thefood icon is an apple.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the iconrepresenting a post-meal test-time alarm is a clock icon.
 9. The methodof claim 1, further comprising receiving, via a user input mechanism, aselection of the icon representing a pre-meal marker to mark the analyteconcentration as a pre-meal analyte concentration.
 10. A method forusing a meter adapted to determine an analyte concentration reading, themeter having a display adapted to display information to a user, themethod comprising: displaying the analyte concentration reading on thedisplay; displaying an icon representing a pre-meal marker on thedisplay; identifying the analyte concentration as a pre-meal analyteconcentration reading via selection of the icon representing a pre-mealmarker; in response to the identification of the pre-meal analyteconcentration reading, displaying an icon representing a post-mealtest-time alarm on the display; and in response to a selection of theicon representing a post-meal test-time alarm, activating the post-mealtest-time alarm after a predetermined amount of time set by the meter toremind the user to obtain a post-meal analyte concentration reading. 11.The method according to claim 10, further comprising storing thepre-meal analyte concentration reading and the post-meal analyteconcentration reading in a memory device of the meter.
 12. The methodaccording to claim 10, wherein the analyte is glucose.
 13. The methodaccording to claim 10, wherein the predetermined amount of time is about1 ½ to about 2 ½ hours from the selection of the pre-meal marker. 14.The method according to claim 13, wherein the activating the post-mealtest-time alarm occurs about two hours after a meal.
 15. The method ofclaim 10, wherein the icon representing a pre-meal marker is a foodicon.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the food icon is an apple. 17.The method of claim 10, wherein the icon representing a post-mealtest-time alarm is a clock icon.